Ministry & Social Networking Media Basics
October 15th, 2009 by Shyju MathewIt has caught up faster than we expected! Yes, I am talking about the social networking sites. Are you perplexed about the need of social networking for your ministry or church? Does the internet seem to offer you a myriad of opportunities but you don’t know how to get the best out of them? Before I go any further, let me say that, I may not be a media expert but our ministry’s media presence often is a topic of conversation with some. There have been pastors asking about these networks and how do they work. It is quite obvious that someone desired to get the best out of what technology has to offer, to escalate the connectivity of the ministry with the masses, to which I hope this blog will help throw some light on.
So, here is an outline of how you could kick-start your venture into the web world. Feel free to take a print out for your pastor. I hope this will be of some help to you. I will try and explain to the best of my abilities to navigate your way through Facebook, Twitter, Blogs and likewise but before that I’d like to answer the question, why social networking?
Why Social Networking
Just as it suggests, it is about networking. I personally believe that ministry is about people and reaching out to people. It is the people that stand with you, believe the best for you and love to hear what is happening with you, so that they can be connected to you in prayer through participation. These networks help you to reach out to places that you would otherwise not be able to reach out to.
For example, it was because of these networking sites that I discovered we have active participation of partners even from places I’ve never travelled to. Last week, I had a message from Jamaica from a sister who has been following our blogs faithfully and she even conveyed that there is a group of Jamaican friends who have been actively reading our blogs and are being enriched by our ministry resources.
Email
To begin with, if you do not have an email ID, that’s where you need to start. I would suggest you use Gmail by Google for that purpose. There are lot more benefits you get through Gmail, more than just an email ID; it offers you simple to understand conversation threads that help you keep your conversations linked together. This helps when there are too many names to remember. Another great reason to use Gmail is the Spam Filtering. Gmail’s spam filtering is the best that I have come across which has helped put me out of spam-misery on Yahoo mail.
Interested in opening an email account start with this
What’s the whole thing about Facebook?
“Facebook is a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study and live around them.”
Now how about connecting with your members and partners in the ministry?
It is not unheard of the few who are proud to declare that they have finally deleted their Facebook account because how messy it got eventually. I agree wholeheartedly but the only difference with me was that I decided to stay on to find a solution to the irksome applications that piled up my inbox.
Irritating applications
One of the biggest problems, with Facebook, that have driven people to the extreme of deleting their account mostly has come from the pokes, super pokes, hugs and kisses that with the help of applications flood almost all email inboxes. The good news, however, is that you can easily change this option on the settings page and deactivate such applications from contacting you on your email. You can decide whether comments on the pictures or the writings on your wall or inbox will notify you via email. You will need a little patience, initially, on marking as spam every new application that tries its way to your profile. Oh and don’t forget to especially ignore very inviting games on it, too!
Ahem ahem… I am yet to understand something they call Farmville. Are we in moving back to the past? Farming? Really?
Best way to browse through Facebook:
Facebook can be very addictive for people who may not be disciplined in their browsing especially through the profiles of people. I personally try to stick to three pages on Facebook.
1. Home page – To see if I have any new friend requests.
2. Profile page – Any new wall posts
3. Inbox – Any new messages?
Straying away to any other profiles may lead you to unending browsing of unending information and gossips of other people’s lives.
Adding friends, families, acquaintances
Now, this is difficult for some people as they value the term friends more than just some acquaintances. I know of some who do not add unknown people or even acquaintances for that matter. It is entirely up to your discretion who you want to add. I have not intentionally rejected any friends so far, as to my personal knowledge. As most of them who add me are my well wishers to whom I find it hard to say no to. (Whether this is good or bad, is open to objective opinion).
Now for those who still have people following and want to keep their profile personal can create something called Fan Page. Where those people who follow your work or ministry can add you. For the record, let it state that I dislike the term ‘fan page’. It gives me cramps and some have even been offended by it but I find it easier for me to update our friends and partners through the pages or otherwise called ‘fan page’.
Twitter!
Over the days, I have begun to hear happy sighs and watch smart grins over how Twitter is so much easier to handle. Thanks to the simplicity of this Networking Site.
What is twittering?
Twitter’s home page says it best. ‘Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?’
How does it work?
You can enter only 140 characters at a time and you can update current news even through your mobile phone.
Why Twitter?
It simply is the best way for your members, family, friends and fans to follow your activity throughout your day and remain updated. Now this is something helpful when a Pastor wants to announce something important or just want to simply share his thoughts. Like Facebook, it also helps you meet new friends, who of course are on the same course of technology updates as you. Now all this for free. So, you could begin by following some friends and family. Remember that Twitter is a room full of people who can read what you are saying from their own space. You can start your account here on www.twitter.com
Basics to start Twittering
Start by uploading news in less than 140 characters about what you are doing. If you would like to reply to someone, you can message that person by using their Twitter name preceded by the ‘@’ symbol.
For example: @johncmaxwell I love your new book on connecting.
You can download a Twitter desktop platform on http://tweetdeck.com/beta/
Does it make sense? Or do you still want 12 more reasons to Twitter?
Private Information
In all these networking sites, you need to be cautious about sharing too much private information that could compromise your safety and cause you unnecessary headaches.
Blogs
Now, the thing that every ministry should not do without is a blog of its own. This is your home base for links to all your other social network presence. All the other networks like Twitter, Facebook lead people to your offline home which is your blog where you can talk to them on a more personal basis. You don’t have a 140 character limit but also make note to write just about enough so that people are not taken over by boredom but they look forward to the next message/blogpost. You can use the blog to communicate your heart or explain the workings and the basis of your ministry. Mostly, stick to writing something that you are passionate about.
Some of these blogs are free (for e.g., Blogger.com and WordPress.com). Some charge a nominal fee (e.g., TypePad.com and SquareSpace.com). Others are free but require you to host them on your own server or site like we’ve done in our ministry which is why we have our own blog name (e.g., WordPress.org)
Tip: Please do not try Ghost Blogging or Ghost twittering. It does not require a personal touch.
Not yet convinced about taking your ministry or church into these networks – watch this video produced for the Economist’s Third Annual Media Convergence Forum in New York City in October 2009. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ILQrUrEWe8 It will give you some facts and statistics focusing on the changing media landscape. I hope this helps your ministry to reach out to more people for the glory of God!
QUESTION: Does your Ministry or Church use these social networking platforms? How have they helped? Does anyone have any useful updates about any helpful social networking sites and topics?
The Pleading Jesus
September 29th, 2009 by Shyju Mathew
We had an amazing night at the crusade in Penang, Malaysia. I am so blessed to be a witness to the many mighty healings and to see salvation come to the masses. After the meeting, we went for dinner.
It was 1:30am, by the time I reached the hotel. I was drained and tired, and even the thought of having to wake up by 8am, as I had to go to Church, was exhausting. But, I wanted to spend more time seeking God even though it was late.
I managed to seek God for a while and went off to bed with the thought that, “Lord, if you really want me to pray, please wake me up in the morning”. I wonder if that was an excuse. I slipped off into deep sleep and guess what, at exactly 3am; I got up as though I was woken up by somebody but being me, I wanted to sleep some more. I turned to the other side and went off to sleep till I was woken up at 4am. Then, I slept again. Now, I saw a dream. In my dream, I saw my mom pleading with me saying, “Please, my son”, and to those words, I woke up immediately. And then I realized instantly that it was not my mom but the Lord, waiting to hear from me in my room.
In that moment, I realized how often I have kept my Lord waiting. It felt like Jesus waiting at the shore for Mr. Peter who was drifting away into the deep sea. But, just like in my dream, our Lord is very gentle never forceful. And I know this for certain that He would have let me sleep if I would have turned to the other side again. I am reminded of the time when he is almost pleading to His disciples, in Matthew 26:40, Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter.
Have you been keeping Jesus lately? “It is with a gentle stillness and the tender nudge that the Holy Spirit moulds mighty warriors.” God wants this generation to respond to the still voice of the Spirit. It was only after God saw that Moses had stepped forward to see the burning bush that God called out to him from the bush!(Exodus 3: 4).
James 4: 8 says, “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you…” The scripture goes on to say, “Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” Are we double minded about spending time in prayer? Is this blog for you? Have you been keeping Him waiting? My friend, the most important thing you can ever do in your life is to have a close walk with God, your creator. He is waiting to see you take the first step. Start today! Start now!
To be alerted every time the blog is updated leave a comment or mail to shyjuisblogging@gmail.com; For more information visit our website on www.shyjumathew.com
© SMMinistries Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For web posting, a link to this document on our website is preferred. Any exceptions to the above must be approved by SMMinistries.
Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: By Shyju Mathew © SMMinistries. Website: www.shyjumathew.com
Red Hot Temptation!
March 24th, 2009 by Shyju Mathew
The good news is that, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it..” 1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)
James 1: 12Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried,he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
13Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts he any man:
14But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15Then when lust hath conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death.
16Do not err, my beloved brethren.
Vs 13 say, God does not tempt anyone! But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.
In other words, don’t be a Christian who, every time encounters a bad situation will either blame it on God or the devil. James is trying to say that there is some evil in us that manifests from our fleshly nature. That is the reason why you don’t need to teach kids to lie or steal. It’s in them. According to the book of James, the source or the genesis of temptation is evil desire! If we can tackle the root cause with the help of the Holy Spirit then we are getting closer to our victory! Nip it off the Bud!
So then how is a desire formed? A desire is formed through our senses. If I was blind and had never seen the color red, how could I desire for the color red? If I was a deaf man who had never heard a single note before would it be possible that I desire to listen to music? What we feed our mind through our senses is what causes us to desire for the same.
So then our first step out of any temptation is to guard our senses. If there is something that you are struggling with, (smoking, pornography, a bad tongue, alcoholism, video games, a physical/emotional relationship outside the will of GOD) make a check list on what are the sources to that sin that you have access to –
Can it be bad company? Too much TV, wrong books, being in the wrong social set up? Find it, and shut it down without mercy! Notice verse 14 talks about evil desire first dragging away and then enticed. The word “dragging away” to me seems like a process.
Humanly it’s impossible not to face challenges when on earth, but from the point of initial contact with the temptation if you allow that to linger then before you know the temptation has caught you by the collar and dragging you into its pit!
The Bible says: Resist temptation and FLEE from evil. Do you FLEE or just hang around temptation?
Step two: Acknowledge that this is one of your temptations and confess it quickly and continuously. Don’t allow guilt to question your relationship with God. Remember that as long as we are on this earth we are going to face continuous battles against this flesh. Therefore it is important that you on a daily basis wash yourself with the blood of Jesus.
If you are asking, Shyju, wont God get tired forgiving me? NOPE! This is the greatest lie of the enemy, don’t let him fool you into thinking God is finally frustrated of FORGIVING YOU. Get up and keep running till you don’t fall anymore. When God sees that you do not take His grace for granted and that you are earnestly seeking His help then God will help you and rescue you!
Step three: battle it in the Spirit. Most of the times the temptation is brought by a evil spirit. That does not mean that you can blame the devil and do nothing about it like mentioned earlier. Even Jesus prayed, lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil! This is clear direction from the Spirit that every believer must put on the spiritual armor and engage in spiritual battle against those areas of your weakness. The spiritual battle includes not just prayer but by confession of the word of God and your status in Christ which the devil hates to hear!
Vs. 15 talks about a formation period. Desire conceives Sin. Now if a desire is formed in the mind and lingers long enough it then becomes a disease of the heart. Before you know it you are bound to it. It starts off as a flash of thought & then if you allow it to linger it’ll argues over the consciousness or the conviction placed by the Spirit.
Many a times we allow ourselves to debate with sin. Mostly the wicked one that visited our great grand mother Eve comes to us trying to tell us about how this is a small risk or that it is not going to hurt anybody. But like I usually say, we are not called to debate with sin, we are warned to flee from sin. But for those of us who try debating with sin we mostly end up giving birth to sin! And now when sin stays it gives birth to death!
What we must do at the face of temptation is use the free will given by God to us.
Many of us Christians are today basing our decisions on our emotions/feelings. If it doesn’t feel right/good, it aint right! Right? WRONG!!!
Remember (and this is a very important point) don’t make decisions based on your feelings. Rather we must make a decision to surrender in the presence of the Holy Spirit by seeing the joy to come through the eyes of Faith!!! Make a decision basing it on the Word & instructions of GOD. Yes it may be painful, it may mean giving up but you will at least have the assurance that you will not loose your soul.
Let me simplify this for you: for those of us grappling with this point: Let’s say you are beginning to fall in love with somebody. (That’s not wrong in itself) But that somebody is not single but married with family and kids. Do you still go ahead? Your heart says “YES! YES! YES but the word of God says NO! So what do you do? Resist! FLEE! Don’t hang around! When your mind starts thinking about that person- Say STOP! In Jesus Name I take every thought captive and submit it to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
My dear friend if you are finding yourself trapped in a situation like this, seek all the help you can from spiritually mature leaders/elders in your church. We have matured leaders in our ministry who can help you with advice if you are ready to open up. Break free. Save your soul. The devil will time and again come to steal, kill and destroy. Let’s be smarter than the enemy. Refuse his lie, there is a way out. CONFESS your sins, set yourself free and surround yourself with prayer and strong Bible based believers.
Do not be deceived my dear friends. May God bless you to make the right decision and not be moved by feelings. Guard your heart with prayer and the word. After you read I’d love to read your response about these blogs! Hoping and praying this helps and strengthens you.
Sincere love& earnest prayers for this generation,
Shyju
P.S – if you are struggling in any area where you need counsel or advice write to mail@shyjumathew.com about your situation with the subject line – “Saying NO TO SIN” and one of our leaders will get in touch with you.
To be alerted every time the blog is updated leave a comment or mail to shyjuisblogging@gmail.com; For more information visit our website on www.shyjumathew.com
© SMMinistries Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For web posting, a link to this document on our website is preferred. Any exceptions to the above must be approved by SMMinistries.
Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: By Shyju Mathew © SMMinistries. Website: www.shyjumathew.com
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